Vaster Than Empires and More Clean

January 21

It's been Three Days of Cleaning, and my room is done. I finally finished decorating, and I put the big empty cardboard moving boxes neatly in the attic. I created a clothes hamper, I folded and hung my clothes, I made up the couch... everything's lovely. I'm very content in my space, now. I feel like I can actually work in my room. The whole house looks really good, actually. Maybe I'll take some pictures of my garret (since I have more memory now, using my webcam to take snapshots is no longer a foolish proposition). But not tonight. No time. Busy, busy.

On Saturday we went to Tot's birthday party, which was also a sort of farewell party, I guess, since Karen & Co. are moving this month, going far and away. Sad, but they're going on an adventure, seeing new places, doing new things. Heather and I took artichoke dip, which went over quite well, and Susan made delicious spring rolls. I drank orange soda. Karen gave away things; we got a copy of Russ's Extra (Ordinary) People, the only book of hers I didn't have, as well as the Xanadu antho, and a lovely metal crab sculpture, and a fabulous picnic basket complete with plates and cups and silverware. Karen's going away, and we get the parting gifts... she's also giving us her table and some bookshelves (the latter to be split with the lovely Susan Marie).

Other news... It's official-official; I'm now listed as editor on the Star*Line site! Tra la! Keep those submissions coming, lovelies. I'm putting out feelers toward some artists, too, since I'm responsible for finding art... there are some possibilities.

Work is busy. My wrists hurt. That's the excuse for any paucity of entries, okay? Though it's not stopping me from playing Alice, which is really a cool game, cooler the farther I get. I played a good bit this weekend; that was the major recreation. Cheaper than the circus (and more vast).

Otherwise? I did things that needed doing. I put oil in my car (which no longer sounds like an asthmatic sphinx; now it purrs like... well... a healthy sphinx. I suppose). I sent out a couple of stories (though I still have more to send). Oh, I sent my novel off to another agent! One of the best in the business. And I was able to claim a pro sale on my cover letter, which might not help, but which probably won't hurt.

Let's see. I wrote a review, of Alan F. Troop's The Dragon DeLaSangre, though the review's too long, and needs to be revised. That's what's happening tonight. Heather and I are going to a café, where I shall work and she shall I dunno what. I also plan to review a poetry collection, and have already formulated most of that review in my head, so I expect I'll do that tonight as well (being as they're already late, and really should be turned in tomorrow).

I dropped, and broke, my black cup today, the one Meg gave me. Sigh. Only the lid broke, but it's a poor travel mug that has no lid. My boss gave me a spare travel mug he had (quite nice of him), which solves the practical problem, but doesn't help the sentimental part. Ah, well. Things break. It sucks.

Watched Magnolia with Heather over the weekend, having seen it once already when it first came out, and liked it even better the second time. A lovely movie, and it led quite naturally to my listening to Aimee Mann for a couple of days.

Man. I can't get over how clean my room is.

And on that note...

Tim Pratt
P.O. Box 13222
Berkeley, CA 94712-4222